tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465Thu, 17 Sep 2015 00:01:59 +0000The Vermont ChallengeThe Vermont Challenge. August 15-19, 2012
Three Great Rides: 4-day Grand Tour, 3-day Weekend Tour, and One day legendary Gap Challenge.
Come up to Vermont and join us - Are you up for the Challenge?http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)Blogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-2563808902580328273Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:02:00 +00002014-03-24T11:02:09.756-07:00Achieving super-human performance levelsFlow psychology to achieve another level of ride performance:<br /><br />Flow Psychology - how to immerse yourself in an activity so that time stands still and you achieve a level of being one in the activity and hence achieve a level of performance not possible otherwise:<br /><a href="http://www.psy-flow.com/sites/psy-flow/files/docs/flow.pdf">http://www.psy-flow.com/sites/psy-flow/files/docs/flow.pdf</a><br /><br />This a technique is used by super-human performers.&nbsp; I think you can recall moments in time when either skiing, riding etc., that you feel a sense of sheer pleasure and that nothing less matters.&nbsp; For most people those moments are fleeting as you let the "outside world, fear and other thoughts, destroy the moment.&nbsp; If you can learn to manage that feeling and prolong it and stay focused in that activity that's when performance reaches another level - super human performance.http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/03/achieving-super-human-performance-levels.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-6227975126843703199Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:29:00 +00002012-09-04T06:29:25.535-07:00Jersey Shore Touring Society's Vermont Challenge 2012 Ride Journal <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Team JSTS (<a href="http://www.jsts.us/"><span style="color: #1e66ae;">Jersey Shore Touring Society</span></a>) has just returned from the inaugural <a href="http://www.blogger.com/vtchallenge.com"><span style="color: #1e66ae;">Vermont Challenge</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">There were 8 of us (each cycling varying number of days) totaling 25 riding days.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 0:</span></u></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Team JSTS arrived at Stratton Mountain for check-in in the late afternoon. The Kick-Off dinner (included in your registration) was in the loft area of the day lodge. This was a fairly intimate affair as there were only 60 registrants for day 1 of the challenge. </span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 1:</span></u></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">It was a cool 60° when Team JSTS convened, with 55 other riders, just before 8am at the Stratton Welcome Center. The tour began with a 4 mile descent, at speeds exceeding 35mph. We were all feeling pretty good – until you realized that your car was up at the start, and you’d be climbing up that same hill to end the ride on Day 4!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">We wound our way through the Green Mountains and along the Battenkill River, stopping for homemade ice cream along the way. The ice cream stop was a 3 mile detour off the main route, but well worth the trip.&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 135pt; visibility: visible; width: 186.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image005.jpg@01CD7ECA.14AF2A90" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Although some of us took the “long” route, and others took the “short” route, we reconvened at the lunch stop in Manchester. After lunch, it was just another couple of miles through town to our motel – a very quaint Vermont lodging experience.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">As it was still early in the day after check-in, some of us took naps, others went for a ride through town.&nbsp; We agreed to meet at 5:30 for the walk into town for dinner. There were 10 of us for sidewalk dining at Gringo Jack’s (we adopted some riders </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>). <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 163.5pt; visibility: visible; width: 210pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image007.jpg@01CD7ECA.14AF2A90" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 160.5pt; visibility: visible; width: 206.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image014.jpg@01CD7ECA.14AF2A90" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">After dinner, most of us headed over to the evening entertainment, a local “classic rock” band, outdoors adjacent to the town recreation area.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Day 1 Stats:&nbsp; 283 miles; 15456 ft of climbing</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 2:</span></u></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">The motel provided breakfast in their gazebo, starting at 6am. There we meet Team Member #6, and 2 “recruits” (Monmouth County residents who were not yet club members).</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Team JSTS was on the road by 7:45am (despite agreeing to “wheels down” at 7:30 the night before) for the short ride over to the start. Today’s route started off with a 3.8 mile prologue through Manchester Center to Town Hall. Once on the road, we had a choice of 2 routes to Okemo. Those that opted for the “short” route missed the bakery stop option, but did manage to include the 10 mile climb coming out of the rest stop. Surprisingly, all members of Team JSTS made it to the lunch stop within the serving time window. We were treated to sandwiches, pasta salad and beer… it was only another 1.5 miles to the hotel.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">The afternoon was meant for kicking back, enjoying the Okemo Jackson Gore Base Area and napping. Team JSTS (and adopted members) planned to meet for dinner (included with registration), in the courtyard behind the inn around 6pm. The rain started at 5:55. After relocating to the “roundhouse”,&nbsp; we enjoyed BBQ Ribs, chicken, burgers and fixings, and another local band. The remaining 2 Team members joined us for dinner, after registering for their one-day event that would begin the following morning.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" style="height: 187.5pt; visibility: visible; width: 240.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image001.jpg@01CD7EC4.1B71B920" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Before heading up to our rooms, we agreed to meet for the team photo at 6:45am, as the ride the next morning was to have a 7am start!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Day 2 Stats: 400 miles; 21972 ft of climbing</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 3:</span></u></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Photos at 6:45am… Almost everybody made it! </span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1029" style="height: 181.5pt; visibility: visible; width: 233.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image002.jpg@01CD7EC4.1B71B920" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Admittedly, due to the 7am start time for the “long” routes, and the 8am start time for the “short” routes, there was some confusion, and unnecessarily early awakening to get everyone in the same place at the same time!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">It was a beautiful 63° when half of us headed out at 7am for the century ride over the Sherburne Pass and back over the Brandon Gap, before climbing the Killington Access Road. The other half got the 8am start, for a shorter ride with a stop at the Long Trail Brewery.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" style="height: 163.5pt; visibility: visible; width: 153pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image003.jpg@01CD7EC4.1B71B920" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">The century route included another bakery stop in Brandon, for our daily off-route food stop. Several of us were riding with adopted team members who had never before done a century, so the added carbs were appreciated. Speaking of which, for one of our core team, this was his first century… congrats Jose – not only was it a century, it was a harder than average century!!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">So, a little about the Brandon Gap…. It’s a 5 mile climb accumulating over 1500 ft, with the steepest section as you approach the crest… Then, of course, there’s the 10 mile descent into Rochester, at speeds exceeding 35mph – well worth the climb </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>.<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">At the rest stop in Rochester, the organizer agreed to keep the lunch stop open for us. Lunch would be 2.5 miles up the Killington Access Road – yet another climb. Some of us decided to pull into the hotel parking lot only a mile up the access r<span style="color: #1f497d;">oa</span>d and call it a day after 102 miles, before reaching the lunch stop – after all, it wouldn’t be too long til dinner! Dinner was on our own tonight.. those sociable team members joined our “recruits” and adoptees at a restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. Dinner tasted great!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 3 Stats:&nbsp; 634 miles; 41630 ft of climbing</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 4:</span></u></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">We knew we were in the mountains when we awoke in the morning to temps in the 40’s. Breakfast again was provided by the hotel. It took a little longer to get ready this morning, as everyone was looking for additional layers<span style="color: #1f497d;">,</span> but most of us got to the start for the 7am start (those that didn’t played catch-up til the first rest stop). At mile 35, some of us couldn’t pass up the (off-route) bakery stop, which set us back another 20 minutes. </span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" style="height: 134.25pt; visibility: visible; width: 170.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image008.jpg@01CD7EC5.E2713720" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" style="height: 131.25pt; visibility: visible; width: 167.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:href="cid:image009.jpg@01CD7EC5.E2713720" src="file:///C:\Users\jsohikia\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">There had been some discussion at breakfast about which routes everyone was doing… the choice was to ride only 48, or so, miles to Magic Mountain (yes, up the access road) and then get bussed back to the start, avoiding the 4 mile climb that we descended on Day 1, or continuing after the Magic Mountain rest stop to complete the loop with 62 miles AND the 4 mile climb. I recall hearing some excuse about needing to get on the road early. But I’m proud to say that 3 of us completed the loop, and still made it to lunch at the finish!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Day 4 Stats: 332 miles; 18618 ft of climbing</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">Total Team JSTS Vermont Challenge Stats:</span></b><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1649 miles; 97676 ft of climbing; 25 rider days</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">It was truly a Vermont Challenge…. Hope you’ll join us next year!</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div>http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/09/jersey-shore-touring-societys-vermont.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-2774081200606945844Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:43:00 +00002012-02-24T18:44:43.056-08:00Burlington Free Press posts an article on The Vermont Challenge!<a class="UIShareStage_InlineEdit inline_edit">Bike event coming to southern Vermont</a><br /><a href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012202230303">http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012202230303</a><br /><br /><a class="UIShareStage_InlineEdit inline_edit">The Vermont Challenge LLC and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing are bringing a bike event to southern and central Vermont on Aug. 15-19.</a>http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/burlington-free-press-posts-article-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-6535855820622793681Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:33:00 +00002012-02-16T17:34:19.438-08:00Mountain Times publishes an article about The Vermont Challenge!!Mountain Times publishes a lead article on the Vermont Challenge!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mountaintimes.info/news/features/2012/02/inaugural-vermont-challenge-to-cycle-through-central-vermont/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.mountaintimes.info/news/features/2012/02/inaugural-vermont-challenge-to-cycle-through-central-vermont/</a>http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/mountain-times-publishes-article-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-2547127719513493400Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:25:00 +00002012-02-09T13:25:17.533-08:00The Taste of VermontCome to Stratton this Saturday eveing and enjoy the taste of Vermont. Stop by and taste my Armenian stew!! <a href="http://www.strattonfoundation.org/events.php">http://www.strattonfoundation.org/events.php</a>http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/taste-of-vermont.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-7322028552337806789Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:00 +00002012-02-03T06:59:47.856-08:00Contacted 360 bike clubs in the Northeast and Canada and we're interviewed for articles about The Vermont Challenge. We'll be updating our sponsors list next week with many great additions.<div><br /></div><div>Register to ride by 3/15 and save $30 off each tour. Better yet, register a team or group of 8 or more and save even more!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Team/group rates before 3/15:</div><div><br /></div><div>One day century or half century: $119</div><div>3-day weekend Tour: $239</div><div>4-day Grand Tour: $339</div><div><br /></div><div>Includes: first year jersey micro fiber t-shrt, all breakfasts &amp; lunches, and two dinners for the Grand Tour participants and one dinner for Weekend Tour riders</div>http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/contacted-360-bike-clubs-in-northeast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-1361213044983622364Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:05:00 +00002012-01-25T14:06:01.791-08:00Send a team to ride the Vermont Challenge, so how about you and your buddies - form a team and get a team discount!http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/send-team-to-ride-vermont-challenge-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-3362676261905279544Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +00002012-01-24T19:52:52.633-08:00Reaching out the bike clubs with great success!We sent out emails to 360 bicycle clubs in the Northeast and Canada and by this evening 8 bicycle clubs in the Northeast have already sent our email out to their members and the South Jersey bike club had it as their lead topic at their Board meeting this evening!!<div><br /></div><div>Our rest stop on one of the century routes that climbs the Middlebury will have a major rest stop before the Gap climb at Marbleworks in Middlebury. There's also a farmer's market in the same stop us you can fuel up with nutrition and organic foods!</div>http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/reaching-out-bike-clubs-with-great.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-4225279299231937459Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +00002012-01-23T10:17:19.665-08:00Registration is now open at vtchallenge.com!! Please join us. <br /><br />We're lining up some amazing sponsors which we'll announce here as we sign them up. We presented to the Manchester Chamber and Manchester and the Mountains Bicycle Club this past Thursday and they are very excited to be supporting the event and hosting us!! <br /><br />The Vermont Challenge is going to be one of the best cycling events so please join us and go back to your bicycling club and put a team together to join us and wear our Premier edition jerseywith pride , that you were "up for the Challenge".http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/registration-is-now-open-at-vtchallenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862871267957773465.post-3581612742947665743Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:54:00 +00002012-01-13T05:54:12.430-08:00The idea of the Vermont Challenge was hatched back in July of 2011 while riding the Tour De Bondville with Sky Foulkes, the General Manager of Stratton Resort and Michael Cobb, Director of Marketing at Stratton. Sky and I discussed how riding in the Southern and Central parts Vermont was our hidden gem and that we needed a way to open our experiences to the greater bicycling community. With Sky's backing we presented our idea to Megan Smith the Director of Tourism for the State of Vermont. She absolutely loved the idea and stated she and the State would support our idea and the Vermont Challenge was born!<br /><br />We plan to use this space and our blog to keep you constantly updated to our progress and as we sign up key sponsors, so please check back on regular basis.http://thevermontchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/idea-of-vermont-challenge-was-hatched.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (jsohikian)0